what are my friends options with disability?

The fact that she may have paid something into the social security program doesn't mean that she is entitled to a benefit. In order for her to draw retirement benefits on her own account she needs 40 quarters of coverage which is equal to ten full years of working and paying into social security. And for her to be entitled to disability benefits she must have worked and paid into social security five years out of the ten years immediately preceding her date of disability. A person either has the coverage or they don't. Period. When she is age 62 she can draw wife's benefits. If he dies before then she can receive widow's benefits at age 60 (or ages 50-60 as a disabled widow).

As for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) - that is the federal welfare program which means that benefits are based upon financial need. Any income received by her or her husband is counted and if she has countable income of $718 or greater she is ineligible. Also, if she has countable resources of $2000 or more she is ineligible (SSI does not include the home one lives in or one vehicle). If they own a second vehicle the full value of that vehicle is counted as a resource. SSI is not a social security benefit even though it is managed by the Social Security Administration; benefits are paid out of general tax revenues unlike social security whose benefits are paid out of the social security trust fund.

Once their health insurance runs out she could check with county welfare to see if she would be eligible for Medicaid. A person doesn't have to be eligible for SSI in order to be eligible for Medicaid.

You actually have to have quite a few work credits to get SSDI. In contrast, SSI is a welfare program, and the couple may have too many assets, and his retirement may be too much income for them to qualify (SSI is for very poor people). The house and a vehicle will not count as assets, as long as the house isn't a mansion and the vehicle is a somewhat old one, but a second vehicle, a boat, a snowmobile - those are all assets that are counted. There are other programs like food stamps, and fuel assistance, that they may qualify for. When she reaches age 62, I believe she can collect half of what her husband's SSA (retirement) income is (well, she may be penalized for taking it at 62 instead of full retirement age). If he was disabled before full retirement age, which is about 66 now, then he should apply for SSDI I think, because if he takes retirement from the SSA at age 62, he will get a lower benefit. So it would be better to be on SSDI for a few years, then the SSA will convert him over to regular retirement when he reaches full retirement age.

Hopefully the helpful lady that used to work for the SSA disability office will answer your question. She gets to most questions like this, in this category.

You can also get the book social security disability, by Nolo Press, which the library may have it.

Also check out www.ssa.gov for information and contacts. She can't qualify for SSI because of the assets (which can't total over $3,000 for a married couple) but could still qualify for SSDI. Do your own research first. Attorneys don't know everything; it would be better to talk to a Social Security Administration representative before consulting an attorney. But know that they do have options.